Resonance Raman Spectro-Electrochemistry to Illuminate Photo-Induced Molecular Reaction Pathways
Electron transfer reactions play a key role for artificial solar energy conversion, however, the underlying reaction mechanisms and the interplay with the molecular structure are still poorly understood due to the complexity of the reaction pathways and ultrafast timescales. In order to investigate...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/2/245 |
| _version_ | 1819119967779422208 |
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| author | Linda Zedler Sven Krieck Stephan Kupfer Benjamin Dietzek |
| author_facet | Linda Zedler Sven Krieck Stephan Kupfer Benjamin Dietzek |
| author_sort | Linda Zedler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Electron transfer reactions play a key role for artificial solar energy conversion, however, the underlying reaction mechanisms and the interplay with the molecular structure are still poorly understood due to the complexity of the reaction pathways and ultrafast timescales. In order to investigate such light-induced reaction pathways, a new spectroscopic tool has been applied, which combines UV-vis and resonance Raman spectroscopy at multiple excitation wavelengths with electrochemistry in a thin-layer electrochemical cell to study [RuII(tbtpy)2]2+ (tbtpy = tri-tert-butyl-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) as a model compound for the photo-activated electron donor in structurally related molecular and supramolecular assemblies. The new spectroscopic method substantiates previous suggestions regarding the reduction mechanism of this complex by localizing photo-electrons and identifying structural changes of metastable intermediates along the reaction cascade. This has been realized by monitoring selective enhancement of Raman-active vibrations associated with structural changes upon electronic absorption when tuning the excitation wavelength into new UV-vis absorption bands of intermediate structures. Additional interpretation of shifts in Raman band positions upon reduction with the help of quantum chemical calculations provides a consistent picture of the sequential reduction of the individual terpyridine ligands, i.e., the first reduction results in the monocation [(tbtpy)Ru(tbtpy•)]+, while the second reduction generates [(tbtpy•)Ru(tbtpy•)]0 of triplet multiplicity. Therefore, the combination of this versatile spectro-electrochemical tool allows us to deepen the fundamental understanding of light-induced charge transfer processes in more relevant and complex systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T06:13:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e5c527aca8704e6196f400fc897aad7b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T06:13:11Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-e5c527aca8704e6196f400fc897aad7b2022-12-21T18:36:10ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492019-01-0124224510.3390/molecules24020245molecules24020245Resonance Raman Spectro-Electrochemistry to Illuminate Photo-Induced Molecular Reaction PathwaysLinda Zedler0Sven Krieck1Stephan Kupfer2Benjamin Dietzek3Department Functional Interfaces, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology Jena, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 9, 07745 Jena, GermanyInstitute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 8, 07743 Jena, GermanyInstitute of Physical Chemistry and Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, GermanyDepartment Functional Interfaces, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology Jena, Albert-Einstein-Strasse 9, 07745 Jena, GermanyElectron transfer reactions play a key role for artificial solar energy conversion, however, the underlying reaction mechanisms and the interplay with the molecular structure are still poorly understood due to the complexity of the reaction pathways and ultrafast timescales. In order to investigate such light-induced reaction pathways, a new spectroscopic tool has been applied, which combines UV-vis and resonance Raman spectroscopy at multiple excitation wavelengths with electrochemistry in a thin-layer electrochemical cell to study [RuII(tbtpy)2]2+ (tbtpy = tri-tert-butyl-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) as a model compound for the photo-activated electron donor in structurally related molecular and supramolecular assemblies. The new spectroscopic method substantiates previous suggestions regarding the reduction mechanism of this complex by localizing photo-electrons and identifying structural changes of metastable intermediates along the reaction cascade. This has been realized by monitoring selective enhancement of Raman-active vibrations associated with structural changes upon electronic absorption when tuning the excitation wavelength into new UV-vis absorption bands of intermediate structures. Additional interpretation of shifts in Raman band positions upon reduction with the help of quantum chemical calculations provides a consistent picture of the sequential reduction of the individual terpyridine ligands, i.e., the first reduction results in the monocation [(tbtpy)Ru(tbtpy•)]+, while the second reduction generates [(tbtpy•)Ru(tbtpy•)]0 of triplet multiplicity. Therefore, the combination of this versatile spectro-electrochemical tool allows us to deepen the fundamental understanding of light-induced charge transfer processes in more relevant and complex systems.http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/2/245UV-visresonance Ramanin situ spectro-electrochemistryTDDFTruthenium bis-terpyridine complex |
| spellingShingle | Linda Zedler Sven Krieck Stephan Kupfer Benjamin Dietzek Resonance Raman Spectro-Electrochemistry to Illuminate Photo-Induced Molecular Reaction Pathways Molecules UV-vis resonance Raman in situ spectro-electrochemistry TDDFT ruthenium bis-terpyridine complex |
| title | Resonance Raman Spectro-Electrochemistry to Illuminate Photo-Induced Molecular Reaction Pathways |
| title_full | Resonance Raman Spectro-Electrochemistry to Illuminate Photo-Induced Molecular Reaction Pathways |
| title_fullStr | Resonance Raman Spectro-Electrochemistry to Illuminate Photo-Induced Molecular Reaction Pathways |
| title_full_unstemmed | Resonance Raman Spectro-Electrochemistry to Illuminate Photo-Induced Molecular Reaction Pathways |
| title_short | Resonance Raman Spectro-Electrochemistry to Illuminate Photo-Induced Molecular Reaction Pathways |
| title_sort | resonance raman spectro electrochemistry to illuminate photo induced molecular reaction pathways |
| topic | UV-vis resonance Raman in situ spectro-electrochemistry TDDFT ruthenium bis-terpyridine complex |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/2/245 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lindazedler resonanceramanspectroelectrochemistrytoilluminatephotoinducedmolecularreactionpathways AT svenkrieck resonanceramanspectroelectrochemistrytoilluminatephotoinducedmolecularreactionpathways AT stephankupfer resonanceramanspectroelectrochemistrytoilluminatephotoinducedmolecularreactionpathways AT benjamindietzek resonanceramanspectroelectrochemistrytoilluminatephotoinducedmolecularreactionpathways |